Apparatus for wrapping up of disc-shaped food and table luxuries,as cheese discs,chocolate bars or the like

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food-and tableluxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars and the like, in foils of paper and/or metal and synthetic material, respectively, including a continuously rotating transportation band, which comprises means for feeding a wrapping material web and a plurality of discs to the transportation band, folding members fold over closing flaps projecting on opposite sides of the discs. A pair of feeding chains turn continuously, and include an upper and a lower path. A plurality of carrying strips receive in series the discs underlayed by wrapping material and bridging over the pair of feeding chains. The carrying strips are spaced apart from each other at a distance, that by cross-cutting of the wrapping material web between adjacent carrying strips two closing flaps are produced, and the passing of the folding members disposed below the pair of feeding chains and causing of the folding over of the closing flaps is made possible.

[ Feb. 13, 1973 United States Patent 1191 Reinecke [54] APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING UP OF FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS r m J m f u e t U S a U C W Y M m a H m v e m G r G 8 a 5 e w n i U m m l E M w d 4 m n l P DISC-SHAPED FOOD AND TABLE LUXURIES, AS CHEESE DISCS, CHOCOLATE BARS OR THE LIKE Assistant ExaminerEugene F Desmond Attorney-Ernest G. Montague [75] Inventor: Gunter Reinecke, Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Benz & Hilgers GmbI-l, Dusseldorf,

Germany [22] Filed: Dec. 22, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 100,688

ing transportation band, which comprises means for feedin a wra in material web and a luralit of 30 Fore: n A hcation Prlorlt Dat g pp g p y 1 g pp y 8 discs to the transportation band, folding members fold over closing flaps projecting on opposite sides of the Jan. 2, 1970 Germany.... ................P 20 00 023.]

discs. A pair of feeding chains turn continuously, and

[52] U.S. include an upper and a lower path. A plurality of carrying strips receive in series the discs underlayed by wrapping material and bridging over the pair of feeding chains. The carrying strips are spaced apart from each other at a distance, that by cross-cutting of the wrapping material web between adjacent carrying wan 2 4 b $20 ,3 05 ,1 02 H, w 2 b 54 M3 2 3 u/ "3 m5 mh "c r a "e S m d .l m. IF 1] 8 55 [56] References Cited strips two closing flaps are produced, and the passing of the folding members disposed below the pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS feeding chains and causing of the folding over of the Grant et al.

s e r u .m F g .m b r. D o D. S m m m m c .w 4 S D- a H g .m S m C XX N99 W00 sum 33 5.

Fahrenbach.......................

H 8 0 666 999 111 II/ 544 229 352 ,3 3 2 0003 332 PATENTED FEB 1 3 I975 SHEET 10F 2 III IIIIII II! III PATENTED FEB 1 3 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING UP OF DISC- SHAPED FOOD AND TABLE LUXURIES, AS CHEESE DISCS, CHOCOLATE BARS OR THE LIKE The present invention relates to an apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food-and table-luxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars or the like, in foils of paper and/or metal-and synthetic material, respectively, the foils consisting of a continuously moving transport band, to which a wrapping material web and the discs are fed one after another and the closing flaps which overlap on both sides of the disc are folded over by folding members.

Devices of this type are known for some time. Thus, in an apparatus a foil web of synthetic material is removed from a roller and bent upwardly between immovable guides on both sides of the longitudinal edges for an angle of 90, so that a U-shaped profile is created. Into this wrapping is filled in hot melting cheese by means of a mouthpiece, whereby the feeding quantity and the feeding speed are set up such upon each other, that a uniform filling is created. Thereafter the highly positioned closing flaps are folded over the filling and welded together, whereupon the hose, which is still connected, is pressed together between cooling rollers to a uniform disc thickness. The packings, which are still connected with each other, are separated by means of a pair of knives and fed from above to a conveyor band equipped with side walls, which conveyor band receives during its controlled movement in each section a predetermined number of cheese packings.

In another apparatus, the melting cheese is filled into a hose, formed by a flat band and welded on the overlapping longitudinal seam, and is pressed together and then separated by means of squeezing rollers to a predetermined disc thickness.

These devices have the common drawback, that the cooling of the mass of cheese in the airtight closed wrapping foil takes place, so that a rule the inner walls of the foil become dull due to condense water formation and unsightly.

Furthermore, the danger exists that during the compression of the foil by the squeezing rollers the cheese mass is not completely displaced, so that at this point no permanent closure can be formed.

Finally, the hot filled cheese mass has the characteristic, to enter a glue connection with the foil, so that both can be separated from each other very difficulty only.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapping up of discshaped food-and table-luxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars or the like, wherein the drawbacks of the known devices are avoided.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food-and table-luxuries, as cheese 'discs, chocolate bars or the like, which is characterized by a high output and the discs, as well as the wrappings remain unchanged and can be separated from each other very easily.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for wrapping up of disc-shaped food-and table-luxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars and the like, wherein a pair of feeding chains, turning continuously, is provided, which pair of feeding chains is bridged over in series by a plurality of carrying strips receiving discs underlayed with wrapping material, which carrying strips in turn are spaced apart from each other at such a distance that by cross-cutting of the wrapping material web between two adjacent carrying strips always two closing flaps can be produced, as well as the passing through of the folding members causing the folding over of the closing flaps disposed below the pair of feeding chains is rendered possible.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, with the insert of a carrying strip in the upper, horizontally disposed path section of the pair of feeding chains, the latter and the carrying strip adjacent thereto in feeding direction as well as the space separating the two strips are covered over by the wrapping material web, which is retained by clamps and which is separable by means of an immovable cross-cutter between the two carrying strips.

The discs are fed individually in their cut state to the carrying strips by means of an inclined plane formed by drivable rollers in coincidence with the speed of the pair of feeding chains.

The folding members causing the folding over of the closing flaps are disposed, in accordance'with another feature of the present invention, on a pair of transportation chains for controlled movement, which pair of transportation chains in turn is arranged with the same advancing speed as the pair of feeding chains turning within the latter. The distances between the individual carrying strips are dimensioned such that the folding members pass through the carrying strips and perform their work and thereafter again disappear therebelow.

The folding members comprise folding bars cooperating in pairs, extending over their length and are arranged parallel to the axis of the carrying strip, both ends of the folding rods are carried by crank levers rotatable on a common rod and guided laterally on the transportation chain over a bearing member each. By means of these folding rods, the overhanging closing flaps are simultaneously thus folded over all discs disposed adjacent each other on a carrying strip.

From the two crank levers, coordinated to one rod, always only one is rigidly connected with a control arm rotatable about the rod, the end of which control arm carries a roller, which enters forcibly into an endless groove-curved path.

In accordance with the present invention, the closing flaps overlap. This requires a different movement of the pair of folding rods, which can be obtained by a different arrangement of the groove-curved path.

For this purpose, the two control-arms .of the cooperating folding rods are disposed opposite each other such that their rollers are worked in the groovecurved paths to a plate secured at the two inner walls of the machine housing. In order that the folding rods can provide the folding over successively of the closing flaps, its movement is adjusted such, that the folding rod disposed forwardly in the direction of movement at first folds over the folding flap smoothly over the disc and only then the second folding rod follows. This procedure is made possible by a different curve arrangement of the two grooved-curved paths, which extends, naturally, only over the control range of these paths.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent in the following detailed description,

the present invention, which is shown by example only, will be clearly understood, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus for wrapping of discs showing the device schematically;

FIG. 2 is a section along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1', and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the chain arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention, shown at an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, the wrapping member can comprise foils of paper and/or metal and synthetic material, respectively, and can be pulled off from a roller 1 by means of a pair of feeding rollers 2. The wrapping material web 3 still connected with the roller 1 is now guided over the upper, horizontally disposed path section of a pair of feeding chains 4, which is moved forwardly continuously in turn on chain wheels 5 within a machine housing 6. Within predetermined regular spaces, the feeding chains 4 are bridged over by carrying strips 7, secured to the feeding chains 4, which carrying strips 7 are equipped with clamps 8 for securing of the wrapping material web 3. Simultaneously with the entrance of the first carrying strip 7 into the upper horizontal path section runs also an inclined plane 9 consisting of driven. rollers, which releases in a wide front a plurality of discs 10 adjacent each other onto the carrying strip 7 arranged with the wrapping material web 3.

Between the first and the second carrying strip 7 in the incoming zone of the upper level, the wrapping material web 3 tensioned part. By means of an immovable cross-cutter 11, the wrapping material web 3 is divided exactly in the center of the intermediate space, whereby the two knives of the cross-cutter 11 are secured suitably to knife-shafts rotating with web speed.

By the one cut, the wrapping material web 3 is cut over its entire width whereby always two closing flaps 3a are created, which are loosely suspended on both sides of the discs 10.

The disc-shaped objects 10 can be cheese discs, chocolate bars, plates of cake or durable baking goods or also other foods and table-luxuries.

The discs 10 engaging over the entire width and the crosswise cut wrapping material web 3 and the carrying strip 7 equipped with both closing flaps 3a enters during the further transportation into the range of the folding members, which provide the folding over of the closing flaps 3a about the disc 10.

These folding members are disposed within the endless moving path of the pair of feeding chains 4 on a pair of transportation chains 12, which in turn is disposed about a driving chain pulley 14 secured to a drive shaft 13 which is mounted on both sides on the machine housing 6, about a return pulley l5 and'a tension wheel 16. It is to be understood, that each of the two transportation chains 12 is equipped with a driving chain pulley 14, a return pulley 15 and a tension wheel 16. Bearing members 17 are arranged on the chain members of both transporting chains 12, which bearing members 17 receive a rod 18 therebetween. On each rod 18 sit at the ends two swan-neck shaped crank levers 19, which carry a joint folding rod 20. The folding rod 20 is designed, as the rod 18, parallel to the axis of the carrying bridge 7 and extends over the entire web of the carrying bridge 7. Always one of the two crank levers 19, sitting on the rod 18, rigidly is connected with a control arm 21 and 21a which is rotatable about the rod 18. The control arms 21 and 21a are disposed opposite each other such, that their rollers 22 and 220 are guided into endless groove-curved paths 23 and 23a, which are worked into one of the two plates 24 and 24a secured to both inner walls of the machine housing 6.

As can be ascertained from FIG. 3, the two groovecurved paths 23 and 2311 are equal only on their lower path section. On the upper section they deviate from each other, as is indicated by the fully drawn lines 23 and the dotted line 23:, with which the inner curve only is indicated.

In order that a non-objectionable control of the folding rod 20 is assured in connection with the pair of transportation chains, both transporting chains 12 are supported from the inside by particular guide shoes 25 at those points, at which no chain pulleys engage.

FIG. 3 shows, how the two cooperating folding rods 20 are lifted successively below the left carrying strip 7, so that in each case the two closing flaps 3a come to lie above the folding rods 20. The latter move now through the intermediate spacings of two adjacent carrying strips 7 until, as the medium carrying strip 7 shows, they have reached about the height of the upper edge of the carrying ledge. The roller 22a of the control arm 21a follows the dotted groove-curved path 23a, whereby the crank lever 19 with the folding rod 20 by adjoining of the right closing flap 3a presses on the flap onto the disc 10. During the return of the right folding rod 20, also the left folding rod 20 follows and turns over likewise the second closing flap 3a, whereby the latter engages partly the lower closing flap 3a and takes care of a good closure.

The carrying strip 7 shown in FIG. 3 on the right side permits recognition of the finished packing 26 with the overlapping closure. After the crank levers 19 continue their further transportation with their folding rods 20 below the pair of feeding chains 4, the packings 26 disposed in series adjacent each other, though finished yet still connected with the wrapping material web 3 are transferred from the carrying bridge 7 to a feeding sheet 27, at the end of which a plurality of pairs of knife-and burnishing-rollers separate the connected packings 26 by a longitudinal cut. In order that the lateral separating points are neighter open nor closed such, that for their opening knife-like means are required, fluted rollers are provided on both sides of the circular knives, which provide the cutting edges with a tight, but easily releasable burnishing closure. Upon leaving the knife-rollers and burnishing-rollers 28, the individual packings 26 reach by means of a feeding slide 29 into prepared receiving packets, in which, in accordance with the desired number of pieces, they are stored and received in collection packings.

While I have disclosed one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood, that this embodim ent is given by example only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food and table-luxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars and the like, in foils of paper and/or metal and synthetic material, respectively, including a continuously rotating transportation band, comprising folding members comprise folding rods cooperating in pairs and disposed parallel to the axis of said carrying strip, as well as extending over the length of the latter,

means for feeding a wrapping material web and a a rod,

plurality of discs to said transportation band, 5 crank levers rotatable on said rod, folding members ff)! fp g F c g fl p P the ends of said folding rods being carried by said lectmg pp sldes of 531d 11565, crank levers and guided laterally by said transpora pair Of feeding chains continuously turning, and intation chain means ofbeaflng means cluding an pp and a lower Path, 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, which ina plurality of carrying strips receiving in series 10 eludes Sald by wraPpmg mammal and a control arm rotatable about said rod and rigidly PndgmgPver 'f f of feedmg chams connected with one of two of said crank levers said carrying strips being spaced apart from each coordinated to one of Said folding rods,

other a f that by crossfcumng of i two of said control arms being disposed opposite of wrapping material web between ad acent carrying Said two cooperating folding rods 2. p 2 fl are i S g said folding rods having a roller each at their ends,

0 Sal mem ers .lspose e 0w said rollers being guided in two endless groove-curve said pair of feeding chains and causing of the foldpaths ing over of said closing flaps is made possible, a machihe housing having inner walls a pan of transportation chains,

said folding members being disposed on said pair of transportation chains and controlled by the movement of the latter, and

said pair of transportation chains being disposed in and turning with the speed of said pair of said feeding chains.

2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plates secured to said inner walls and guiding said rollers in said endless groove-curve paths.

4. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said two groove-curve paths have a curve arrangement different within the control range in each of said paths. 

1. An apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food-and and tableluxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars and the like, in foils of paper and/or metal and synthetic material, respectively, including a continuously rotating transportation band, comprising means for feeding a wrapping material web and a plurality of discs to said transportation band, folding members for folding over closing flaps projecting on opposite sides of said discs, a pair of feeding chains continuously turning, and including an upper and a lower path, a plurality of carrying strips receiving in series said discs underlayed by wrapping material and bridging over said pair of feeding chains said carrying strips being spaced apart from each other at a distance, that by cross-cutting of the wrapping material web between adjacent carrying strips two closing flaps are produced, and the passing of said folding members disposed below said pair of feeding chains and causing of the folding over of said closing flaps is made possible, a pair of transportation chains, said folding members being disposed on said pair of transportation chains and controlled by the movement of the latter, and said pair of transportation chains being disposed in and turning with the speed of said pair of said feeding chains.
 1. An apparatus for wrapping of disc-shaped food-and and table-luxuries, as cheese discs, chocolate bars and the like, in foils of paper and/or metal and synthetic material, respectively, including a continuously rotating transportation band, comprising means for feeding a wrapping material web and a plurality of discs to said transportation band, folding members for folding over closing flaps projecting on opposite sides of said discs, a pair of feeding chains continuously turning, and including an upper and a lower path, a plurality of carrying strips receiving in series said discs underlayed by wrapping material and bridging over said pair of feeding chains said carrying strips being spaced apart from each other at a distance, that by cross-cutting of the wrapping material web between adjacent carrying strips two closing flaps are produced, and the passing of said folding members disposed below said pair of feeding chains and causing of the folding over of said closing flaps is made possible, a pair of transportation chains, said folding members being disposed on said pair of transportation chains and controlled by the movement of the latter, and said pair of transportation chains being disposed in and turning with the speed of said pair of said feeding chains.
 2. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said folding members comprise folding rods cooperating in pairs and disposed parallel to the axis of said carrying strip, as well as extending over the length of the latter, a rod, crank levers rotatable on said rod, the ends of said folding rods being carried by said crank levers and guided laterally by said transportation chain by means of bearing means.
 3. The apparatus, as set forth in claim 2, which includes a control arm rotatable about said rod and rigidly connected with one of two of said crank levers coordinated to one of said folding rods, two of said control arms being disposed opposite of said two cooperating folding rods, said folding rods having a roller each at their ends, said rollers being guided in two endless groove-curve paths, a machine housing having inner walls, plates secured to said inner walls and guiding said rollers in said endless groove-curve paths. 